If San Diego is known for one thing, it’s the beaches. They’re one of the biggest attractions for visitors and it can be daunting to know which ones to visit and which ones to avoid.
I mean in general you really can’t go wrong going to any of them but there are some things to know before visiting. Something that is unavoidable though is the driving and parking situation. As a rule of thumb, leaving earlier to find a parking spot and avoid the traffic is best practice.
With nearly 70 miles of stunning coastline, San Diego is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States and whether you’re looking for world-class surfing, family-friendly shores, dramatic sunsets, or hidden coastal gems, San Diego has a beach for every kind of traveler.
Pacific Beach
If you want the classic California beach-town experience, Pacific Beach is the place to go. It’s very central and middle of the road. I mean to say that it has all the good parts of other beaches without many of the draw backs.
Known locally as “PB,” this lively neighborhood combines surfing, nightlife, and beach culture into one energetic destination.
The beach has that nice white sand everyone wants to step on when visiting and stretches pretty far. It just continues down into Mission Bay and there are always people in the water and surfing.
The long lightly sanded covered boardwalk is the iconic sight that I think of when I think of the beach here. There are always people biking, rollerblading, playing music, blowing bubbles, ect. in front of some of the most amazing (and probably most expensive houses) you will ever see. There are also tons of restaurants, shops, dive bars and rooftop bars. I like World Famous, Pangea Outpost, and of Course Hendel’s Iceream. Of course some local favorites are Baked Bear, Silver Fox Lounge, and Oscar’s Mexican Seafood.
This is a great place to visit if you want to play volleyball too with plenty of volleyball nets. People can be territorial and the courts do get taken early though.
Pacific Beach has a younger, more social atmosphere that perfectly captures San Diego’s laid-back coastal vibe. There are a lot of bars to visit and it draws a lot of people at night so it can be hectic day or night.
Best for: Nightlife, surfing, and social beach scenes.
La Jolla
To be honest I think I prefer La Jolla over any other beach if I had to choose. The only problem is that it is kinda hard to get to and once you’re there, there aren’t many places to park. There are really only like 2 ways into La Jolla. La Jolla Parkway (which can get super backed up) and La Jolla Shores drive (which is out of the way and can take just as much time). So be aware and prepare your route early.
That being said, La Jolla has some of the best stretches of sand in San Diego. It is very clean and beautiful. There’s also Kellogg Park right in front of the ocean, perfect for picnics or a family day out.
I have so many great memories of the north of La Jolla by the tide pools. If you time it right, you can go on a great beachside hike that only appears for a few hours a day.
The waves are not as big as other beaches so its a good place for beginners. Honestly, there are more kayakers than surfers. If you go on a kayak tour or just get your own you can check out the La Jolla caves or the kelp forest.
Did you know that La Jolla is a protected marine reserve? It’s a great place to see wild life and go snorkeling or scuba diving.
Known for being upscale, there are lots of places to go shopping or have dinner. I like Duke’s and going shopping in La Jolla Village Downtown. The beach and Downtown are not in walking distance though so its nice to start at the beach and head south to the Downtown area for shopping and restaurants.
Some of my favorite food places are Caroline’s, Puesto, Catania, and Georges at the Cove.
Hidden Gem: Get a bite to eat at Destiny Coast with an unparalleled view. It’s on Scripps Institute of Oceanography and you can either park along La Jolla Shore’s Dr. or take the scenic route on the wooden stairs along Biological Grade as a hike.
Torrey Pines Beach
Torrey Pines is honestly one of the most naturally beautiful beaches in San Diego. It feels way less crowded and commercial than a lot of the other beaches, which is probably why I like it so much. You get the beach, the cliffs, the hiking trails, and the ocean views all in one place. It almost feels more like a California state park experience than just a normal beach day.
The only downside is that parking can get difficult, especially on weekends. The lot at the bottom fills up fast and parking along the road near the gliderport or reserve can take some patience. If you go earlier in the morning or around sunset though, it is absolutely worth it.The cliffs are probably the most iconic part. Driving down the hill into Torrey Pines with the ocean opening up in front of you is one of the best coastal views in San Diego. The sandstone cliffs make the whole beach feel dramatic and secluded compared to flatter beaches like Mission Beach or Pacific Beach.
One of my favorite things to do is hike at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and then walk straight down to the sand afterward. The Beach Trail is pretty easy and gives you incredible views the whole way down. If you time it around golden hour, the cliffs start glowing orange and it looks unreal.
The beach itself is huge, clean, and usually less chaotic than some of the more tourist-heavy spots. It is great for long walks because the shoreline stretches forever. During low tide you can walk really far north and see cool rock formations and little tide pool areas.The waves can actually get pretty strong here, especially compared to La Jolla Shores, so it is more of a beach for experienced swimmers and surfers. A lot of people come more for the scenery, hiking, and relaxing atmosphere than for swimming though.
Something I think people overlook is how good Torrey Pines is for photography. Between the cliffs, driftwood, sunsets, paragliders near the gliderport, and fog rolling over the bluffs in the morning, there is always something to shoot.
If you get hungry afterward, I like to head towards Del Mar because there are a lot of good restaurants nearby . The whole area has a quieter upscale coastal vibe compared to some other parts of San Diego.
Some good nearby spots are Jake’s Del Mar, Monarch Ocean Pub, and Board & Brew for something more casual.
Hidden Gem: Go up to the Torrey Pines Gliderport around sunset. Even if you are not paragliding, just sitting on the cliffs watching the gliders fly over the ocean is one of the coolest views in San Diego.
Coronado
Coronado Beach is probably the beach I would recommend to someone visiting San Diego for the first time. It has that classic Southern California postcard look that people imagine before they come here. The sand is super wide, the water usually looks cleaner and calmer, and the whole area just feels relaxed and polished.
The best part is honestly the atmosphere. Even on busy days it never feels as chaotic as beaches like Pacific Beach or Mission Beach. There are families, people biking around town, volleyball games, tourists walking near the hotel, and locals just hanging out watching the sunset. It feels active without being overwhelming.
Parking can definitely be tricky though, especially during summer weekends. If you are lucky you can find street parking near Ocean Boulevard, but you might end up walking a bit. Honestly I usually park farther into town and just make the walk because Coronado is such a nice place to walk around anyway.
The sand here is really unique too. It has little specks of mica in it that shimmer in the sunlight, especially around sunset. The beach is also huge, so even when it gets crowded there is usually plenty of room to spread out.
One of my favorite things about Coronado is just walking along the shoreline near Hotel del Coronado. The hotel gives the whole beach this iconic historic California feel. At sunset when the sky turns pink behind the hotel, it honestly looks like a movie set.The waves are usually pretty mellow compared to beaches farther north, so it is a good beach for swimming, families, and beginner surfers. The water can still get cold of course, but the beach itself is very approachable and easygoing.
Coronado in general also feels cleaner and quieter than a lot of beach towns. Orange Avenue has tons of restaurants, coffee shops, little boutiques, and ice cream places all within walking distance. That is something I think makes Coronado stand out, you can actually make a full day out of it without needing to drive around constantly.
Some of my favorite places nearby are Clayton’s Coffee Shop for breakfast, Buona Forchetta for pizza, and The Henry if you want something a little nicer.
If you want one of the best views in San Diego, drive over the San Diego-Coronado Bridge right before sunset and spend the evening walking around Coronado after. The skyline views looking back toward downtown are amazing at night.
Hidden Gem: Walk down to the south end of the beach near Coronado Dog Beach around sunset. It is usually less crowded, and on clear evenings you can see the Hotel del, Point Loma, and downtown San Diego all at once.
Mission Beach/Bay
Mission Beach/Bay is way more energetic than places like La Jolla or Coronado. There are always people biking, skating, surfing, playing volleyball, blasting music, or just hanging out on the boardwalk. Depending on what you are looking for, that is either the best part or the worst part. Personally, I think it is fun because it actually feels like there’s always something going on.
Parking can definitely test your patience though. During summer especially, the lots fill up early and street parking becomes kind of a game. I usually try to go earlier in the day or closer to sunset when people start leaving.
What makes the area unique is that you get both the ocean side and the bay side within walking distance. The ocean side at Mission Beach has the waves, surfers, and boardwalk atmosphere, while Mission Bay is calmer and more relaxed. If you are with family or just want to kayak, paddleboard, picnic, or chill by the water, the bay is honestly perfect.
One of my favorite things to do is rent bikes and ride the entire boardwalk from South Mission all the way toward Pacific Beach. There is always something happening and it is one of the easiest ways to spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time passed.
The sunsets at Mission Beach are underrated too. The sky opens up over the water and the pier silhouettes look really good around golden hour. If you walk toward Belmont Park at night, the lights from the roller coaster and beach bars give the whole area a nostalgic California beach town vibe.
Mission Bay is also one of the best spots in San Diego for water activities. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, sailboats, little electric boats, or just go swimming in the bay
The water is much calmer than the ocean, so it is beginner-friendly and great for groups.
Food-wise, there are a ton of casual beach spots nearby. Some of my favorites are Miss B’s Coconut Club, The Mission for breakfast, and Cannonball if you want rooftop views near the beach.
Hidden Gem: Go to the bay side near Crown Point Park right before sunset. It is way calmer than the main beach, and you get amazing reflections on the water with the downtown skyline lighting up in the distance.
Where To Avoid
Ok maybe not avoid, but I would say you should know what you’re getting yourself into before going to some of these places.
Imperial Beach: It’s San Diego’s most southern beach. It used to be really nice, but in the past couple of years it’s gotten really bad. The main problem is the smell and water quality. Since it’s the closest beach to Tijuana, all the runoff and sewage from across the boarder spills out into the ocean making it smell horrible and it can even be dangerous to go in the water. Especially after it rains. The neighborhood and area around the beach is nice and there’s lots of shops and restaurants. They even host an annual sandcastle making contest. I would just skip the water though.
San Diego Bay: The Bay suffers from a similar problem as Imperial Beach. Pollution and odor. Most of the surrounding parts of The Bay are really not even accessible anyway. It’s not really a beachy type of area.
Blacks Beach: Black’s Beach is actually really nice! It’s beautiful, clean, and tucked away. It is a little bit harder to access but a problem you might have is that it’s a nude beach.
Ocean Beach: I love Ocean Beach. I just don’t think it made the list of top 5 beaches. It’s smaller than other beaches and it has a reputation of being funky. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it is stereotypical home of the hippy surfer. That being said, it has some of the best surfing spots in all of San Diego.
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